Imaged on the refreshing impressions of an underwater garden. With an aim to express a world in which the environment, made up of a variety of aquatic plants, harmonises with the fish that live there, this view, reminiscent of a pale and beautiful watercolor painting, speaks of the unique charm of aquatic plants. This deeply moving aquascape, for a long time on exhibition at ADA LAB GINZA, was created with an intention to convey the beauty and enjoyment of aquatic plants to visitors.

DATA
Photo taken on: February 28, 2023 (ADA)
Creator: Yusuke Homma (layout production, text)
Aquarium: Cube Garden W1,500×D600×H600（mm）
Lighting: Solar RGB x 3 (8.5 hours per day)
Filtration: Super Jet Filter ES-2400 (Bio Rio G)
Material: Horn Wood, Manten Stone
Substrate: Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2, Power Sand Advance L, Bacter 100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC, DOOA Tropical River Sand
CO2: Pollen Glass Beetle 50Ø, 5 bubbles per second via CO2 Beetle Counter (using Tower)
Aeration: 15.5 hours after the light is turned off using Lily Pipe P-6
Additives: Brighty K, Green Brighty Mineral, Green Brighty Iron, Green Brighty Nitrogen
Water change: 1/3 once a week
Water quality: Temperature 25°C, pH: 6.2, TH: 50 mg/L

Plant :
Alternanthera reineckii / Eichhornia diversifolia / Bacopa caroliniana / Hygrophila polysperma / Pogostemon sp. ‘Dassen’ / Hygrophila angustifolia / Micranthemum unbrosum / Rotala rotundifolia / Rotala rotundifolia ‘Fujian’ / Rotala rotundifolia ‘Reddish’ / Rotala macrandra ‘Green’ / Ludwigia arcuata / Ludwigia glandulosa / Ludwigia repens ‘Super Red’ / Myriophyllum sp. ‘Guyana’ / Myriophyllum mattogrossense / Helanthium bolivianum ‘Angustifolius’ / Eleocharis vivipara / Blyxa novoguineensis / Anubias barter var. nana ‘Petite’ / Leptochilus pteropus / Bolbitis heudelotii / Taxiphyllum barbieri / Riccia fluitans

Fish :
Paracheirodon axelrodi / Moenkhausia costae / Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma / Nematobrycon lacortei / Hyphessobrycon amapaensis / Crossocheilus oblongus / Otocinclus sp. / Caridina multidentata

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A. The refreshingly light feet of aquatic plants
The planting area of stem plants widens from midground to background, which creates a pressing feeling in the foreground as they grow thick. The decorative sand in the foreground not only abates that feeling but its whiteness plays a role in drawing out the aquatic plant’s colors.

B. Produce an underwater feel with swaying leaves
Hygrophila angustifolia and delicate tape-shaped plants which fluidly sway in the current are suitable for giving an underwater feeling to an aquascape.

C. Complimentary color effects and spread distribution
By placing Microsolum near red stem plants, complimentary color effects are worked to increase the color’s vibrancy. Driftwood and ferns also serve as partitions between stem plant areas, helping to maintain balance across different clumps.

Layout Completion: A strikingly three-dimensional Suikei

Adjacent clusters on the front, back, left and right produce impressive contrast. Using various leaf shapes and colors, aim to create a variety of contrasts to generate a three dimensional feel as all the different clusters mature.

Stem Plants : Making the most of stem plant characteristics

The silouettes of various stem plants, from large-leaved Alternanthera reineckii to fine Myriophyllum, make up scenery rich in variety. Red, green and yellow plants are planted in roughly equal proportion.